Republican News · Thursday 12 June 2003

Disband the RIR

BY LAURA FRIEL

This week, under pressure from the Ulster Unionist Party, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon dismissed 'speculation' about the future of the RIR and claimed that no decision had been made to disband the regiment's home battalions.

Hoon refuted speculation that the British Army intended to disband RIR units once demilitarisation proposals in the British and Irish government's Joint Declaration were implemented.

"That decision will not arise until the security threat has receded to the point when the police no longer routinely need operational support from the army," said Hoon.

But Sinn Féin and the SDLP have already indicated that it was their understanding that the RIR battalions would be stood down and have accused the British government of bowing to unionist rejectionism.

Once again, the peace process appears to have been stalled or perhaps even abandoned to save David Trimble from facing down anti-Agreement unionists from within his own party ranks.

Last week, Jeffery Donaldson, a former part time member of the UDR, defied his party leader and called a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council at which he plans to scupper the Joint Declaration by claiming that a vote in favour is a vote for the destruction of the RIR.

Trimble immediately capitulated and demanded reassurances from the British government. If the 'Home Service' were disbanded, he said, "it would be worse than Patten." And the UUP leader then declared that he would not "lift a finger" in support of the Joint Declaration unless the British government gave assurances on the RIR's three battalions.

Commenting after UUP leader David Trimble's meeting with the British minister, Sinn Fein's spokesperson on policing and justice, Gerry Kelly described the RIR as "first and foremost a unionist militia."

"Sinn Fein's position has been both clear and consistent. We want the removal of all British forces, including the RIR. This conflict resolution process must involve the removal of the RIR," said Kelly.

"The RIR/UDR are part of the problem. Many nationalists, victims of the UDR and RIR, regard David Trimble's demand as a cynical disregard of their suffering. It is totally unacceptable to nationalists," he said.